Ban on animal sacrifice in the offing

Prevention of Animal Sacrifice in Hindu Shrines Bill being drafted:

Minister Swaminathan to present Bill in Parliament:

Significant milestone in promoting Hindu religious concepts:

by P. Krishnaswamy

Animal sacrifice in all Hindu shrines in the island will be banned under a new law that is to be introduced soon, Resettlement, Reconstruction, Hindu Religious Affairs and Prison Reforms Minister D.M. Swaminathan told the Sunday Observer.

He said he will present the Bill in Parliament at the end of this month. The ‘Prevention of Animal Sacrifice in Hindu Shrines’“ Bill is now being drafted by the Legal Draftsman’s Department, he said.

This would be a significant milestone in promoting Hindu religious concepts, since animals sacrifice in Hindu shrines and temples was a controversial issue, disliked by a majority of Hindus, he said.

The practics has been in existence in many Hindu shrines and temples throughout the island but the Munneswaram Badra Kali Amman temple became the focus of the issue in recent years. Bhikkhus and animal rights activists repeatedly protested against animal sacrifice in the temple and also a minister in the former regime forcibly took away animals kept near the temple premises for sacrifice.

Defaulters will be charged under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, he said.